Philippians 3 – Who’s In & Who’s Out January 25, 2009
Posted by Noel in Philippians Sermon Series.trackback
Hello all, This week we discussed the implications of the Early Church’s struggle to balance Jewish tradition with people’s newfound faith in Jesus. The Jewish believers were incorrect in assuming that Gentiles must convert to Judaism first, before being considered real Christians, which Paul addressed in chapter 3 of Philippians. We also looked at Mark 3 where Jesus really announced His revolution by blowing open everyone’s concept of culture, society and family. Really Brilliant.
Statue of Jesus overlooking the city
Your questions for the week are:
1. What social, religious boundaries do we create today?
2. Why is it so uncomfortable to believe that Jesus can see everyone as equals?
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Hello again, I just received this e-mail from Brett Kroeker last night. The story is a perfect fit, what a great example to add to yesterday’s discussion. Enjoy!!!
A man sat at a metro station in Washington, DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that over a thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.
Three minutes went by and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried up to meet his schedule. A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk. A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.
The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tugged him along, hurried but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.
In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 7 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 27 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32.17 by 27 people out of 1,097 that passed by. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars. Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston and the seats average $100.
This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of an social experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?
One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?
Love the story that you shared! Thanks! So, why is it so hard for us to believe that Jesus sees everyone as equal? I have to admit, that is something I battle with. What does Jesus have that we lack, to be able to see ALL as his children without differentiation? Could it be grace? Grace is a word that we have heard for many many years, but do we fully understand what that means? What is grace to the fullest? Do we forget how hopeless our situations were before WE were rescued by God’s grace? Do we forget that God does not exist solely to serve US and make US happy? While “Amazing Grace” is a popular hymn sung by many believers around the world, it is not always a lifestyle choice made by those who sing it. I have to ask myself is that me? You would think that us as believers, who freely ask and receive for Gods grace, that we would be able to find a way to extend it freely as well. So, why don’t we? We have experienced it first hand, over and over and yet by some of the worlds views we are seen and cast as judgmental and intolerant. That’s heartbreaking. I would challenge us to walk with these words in mind as we try to love as Jesus does. “The more aware you are of your need for God’s grace, the more generous, humble and merciful you will become to others”. May we not only bathe in the glorious grace we are given, but also shower it on others as Jesus would have us do.
1. What social, religious boundaries do we create today?
where do you start, there are so many. i think the main thing to comment on is that we create alot of our boundaries ourselves. It is alot easier to blame society ( thats just the way the world is…) but until we all come to the realization that WE are the part of that society that is accepting these boundries and that until we dissolve these boundries in our lives, the rest of society never will.
2. Why is it so uncomfortable to believe that Jesus can see everyone as equals?
Because we can’t help but believe that there are smaller/larger degrees of sin and when they become personal, we struggle with forgivness, unlike Jesus.
“How can some one who has sinned so much more than me recieve the same love from jesus? How could Jesus look at that sinner as my equal?”
A terrible comment, i agree, but is there a little bit of truth of this in you? I know there is a little in me….instead of denying/ hiding it; confess it to god. Embrase his love and grace for you and let his glory pour over you and wash your sinful nature away.
Anyway, just one more comment; that with what ever struggles you have, your first place to look to over come them is with your relationship with Jesus. when that is good, the rest will be as well. Just remember, relationships are a “two way street”.
Wow, both of you have great posts..
first off, I really don’t have an answer to why grace is so easy to receive, yet so hard to share with others…. man, why is that!!!!! I would really like to believe that we as Christians should be filled to overflowing with the endless LOVE of God that we should always be sharing it with others. To a degree I think we do, but I notice so many other ways we are not – do you ever get the feeling that we as Christians often completely miss the point of Jesus?
Secondly, tied to the first, we are really no different that the NT Pharisees – we are all equally judgmental. and we all seem to think that it is our job to speak for God as to what is right and what is wrong.
Very recently I heard some people in our church speak up on a spiritual/moral/ethical issue in our society and they felt very strongly that a line was drawn in the sand and it is the job of Christians to keep it that way. Yet what I failed to hear in that conversation was any mention of God’s love and grace.
We as Christ followers seem to be so black and white that we don’t know how to handle the tension between our perceptions of justice and God’s perception of love/grace.
Rob Bell’s new book says it best, I think…
“Jesus Wants to Save Christians”